Deckers Outdoor Attacks Customs Over Ugg Duties

Law360, New York (May 19, 2010, 2:53 PM EDT) -- Shoe manufacturer Deckers Outdoor Corp. has accused U.S. Customs and Border Protection of misclassifying Ugg boots that the company imports and substantially increasing duties on the products.

The complaint — filed Tuesday in the U.S. Court of International Trade — claims that Customs has improperly liquidated the imports as slip-on footwear that carries a 37.5 percent duty, rather than as footwear valued at more than $12 a pair, which faces only a 9 percent tariff.

The Goleta, Calif.-based shoe company, which also sells footwear under the...